Power generation apparatus using permanent-magnet generator

ABSTRACT

A power generation apparatus includes a permanent-magnet AC generator, a first converter for converting AC power into DC power, and a second converter for converting the DC power produced by the first converter into AC power. The first converter includes a unit for controlling active power and a unit for controlling reactive power and the second converter includes a unit for controlling a voltage of a DC system and reactive power or AC voltage of a power system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a power generation apparatususing a permanent-magnet generator and more particularly to control of apower converter.

[0002] The power generation apparatus using the permanent-magnetgenerator uses a gas turbine, a hydropower, wave power or the like as apower source to rotate the permanent-magnetic generator. AC powergenerated by the permanent-magnet generator is converted into DC powerby a first converter and the DC power produced by the first converter isconverted into AC power by a second converter again to supply the ACpower.

[0003] As a control method of the power generation apparatus using thepermanent-magnet generator, JP-A-2000-345952 discloses “a wind powermultipole generator and a wind power generation method” in which anactive power command value is decided on the basis of the rotation speedof a multipole generator to control output power of a variable speedinverter. Further, JP-A-5-22938 discloses “a control circuit of a powerconversion system” in which a power converter is controlled to make aterminal voltage of a permanent-magnet generator fixed.

[0004] In order to utilize energy obtained from the power sourceeffectively, it is desirable to make the power generation apparatususing the permanent-magnet generator have robust characteristics withhigh efficiency.

[0005] In the prior art, since the active power command value is decidedon the basis of the rotation speed of the power generator to controlactive power, measures for adjusting a power factor of the powergenerator are not provided and operation taking the efficiency intoconsideration as a power generation system is not always performed.Further, when the constant terminal voltage is maintained, a largereactive current is supplied in order to increase the terminal voltagein the area where the rotation speed of the power generator is low, sothat a potential difference between the terminal voltage and an internalinduced voltage of the power generator is increased to make a phasedifference between the terminal voltage and the current large andconsequently reduce the power generation efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a powergeneration apparatus using a permanent-magnet generator or a powergeneration system using the same having robust characteristics with highefficiency within a wide variable speed range in a capacity of aconverter by means of control of reactive power or a voltage of a firstconverter.

[0007] The power generation apparatus using the permanent-magnetgenerator according to the present invention, includes apermanent-magnet generator for generating AC power, a first converterfor converting the AC power generated by the generator into DC power,and a second converter for converting the DC power produced by the firstconverter into AC power. The first converter includes means forcontrolling active power of the AC power of the generator and means forcontrolling reactive power of the AC power of the generator, and thesecond converter includes means for producing the active power.

[0008] In the power generation apparatus using the permanent-magnetgenerator according to the present invention, the first converterincludes means for calculating a reactive power command value on thebasis of an active power command value and a rotation speed of thegenerator and the first converter controls reactive power of the ACpower of the generator on the basis of the active power command valueand the rotation speed of the generator.

[0009] In the power generation apparatus using the permanent-magnetgenerator according to the present invention, the first converterincludes means for controlling active power of the AC power of thegenerator, means for controlling a voltage of the AC power of thegenerator, and means for calculating a voltage command value on thebasis of an active power command value and a rotation speed of thegenerator and the first converter controls a terminal voltage of thegenerator on the basis of the active power command value and therotation speed of the generator.

[0010] A setting method of the power generation apparatus using thepermanent-magnet generator according to the present invention, includingmeans for calculating a reactive power command value on the basis of anactive power command value and a rotation speed of the generator andmeans for calculating a voltage command value on the basis of the activepower command value and the rotation speed of the generator, comprisessetting up the reactive power command value or the voltage command valueso that a phase difference between an output current of the generatorand an internal induced voltage of the generator is equal to zero inaccordance with the active power command value until a rotation speed atwhich a terminal voltage of the generator reaches a rated value isreached and setting up the reactive power command value or the voltagecommand value so that the terminal voltage is fixed in accordance withthe active power command value in the area where the rotation speed isincreased.

[0011] In the setting method of the power generation apparatus using thepermanent-magnet generator according to the present invention, the firstconverter includes means for controlling active power of the AC power ofthe generator, means for controlling a voltage of the AC power of thegenerator, and means for calculating a voltage command value on thebasis of an active power command value or the rotation speed of thegenerator, and the first converter controls a terminal voltage of thegenerator on the basis of the active power command value or the rotationspeed of the generator.

[0012] The setting method of the power generation apparatus using thepermanent-magnet generator according to the present invention, includingmeans for calculating the voltage command value on the basis of theactive power command value or the rotation speed of the generator,comprises setting up the voltage command value so that the terminalvoltage is fixed in accordance with the active power command value orthe rotation speed of the generator.

[0013] With the above configuration, there can be provided the powergeneration apparatus using the permanent-magnet generator having therobust characteristics with high efficiency while utilizing theconverter capacity effectively.

[0014] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description of the embodiments of theinvention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a powergeneration apparatus according to an embodiment 1 of the presentinvention;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control apparatus of afirst converter used in the power generation apparatus of the embodiment1;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining a relation of an reactive powercommand value gain Kq and a PMG rotation speed N;

[0018]FIG. 4 is a diagram explaining a relation of a active powercommand value Pr and a PMG rotation speed N;

[0019]FIG. 5 is a diagram explaining a relation of a active powercommand value Qr and a PMG rotation speed N;

[0020]FIG. 6 is a diagram explaining a relation of a voltage commandvalue gain Kv and a PMG rotation speed N;

[0021]FIG. 7 is a diagram explaining a relation of a voltage commandvalue Vr and a PMG rotation speed N;

[0022]FIG. 8 is a vector diagram for explaining a control method in asteady rotation area;

[0023]FIG. 9 is a vector diagram explaining a control method in ahigh-speed rotation area; and

[0024]FIG. 10 is a diagram explaining a relation of a PMG terminalvoltage Vt and a PMG rotation speed N.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0025] (Embodiment 1)

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 1, a power generation apparatus accordingto an embodiment is described. The power generation apparatus using apermanent-magnet generator (hereinafter abbreviated as PMG) of theembodiment uses a power source 1 such as a gas turbine, hydropower, wavepower or the like to rotate a permanent-magnet generator 2 and AC powergenerated by the permanent-magnet generator 2 is converted into DC powerby a first converter 3. The DC power produced by the first converter 3is again converted into AC power by a second converter 4 and the ACpower is supplied to a power system 5. Each of the first and secondconverters 3 and 4 includes, as a three phase bridge circuit, 6self-commutating semiconductor elements and 6 diodes constituting aself-commutated converter, for example. Each of the self-commutatingsemiconductor elements is connected to control apparatuses 100 and 200for inputting control pulses.

[0027] The control apparatus 100 includes a converter control unit 103which prepares control pulses on the basis of outputs of an active powercontrol circuit 101 and a reactive power control circuit 102 andcontrols active power and reactive power generated by thepermanent-magnet generator 2. On the other hand, the control apparatus200 includes a converter control unit 203 which prepares control pulseson the basis of outputs of a DC voltage control circuit 201 and areactive power control circuit or an AC voltage control circuit 202 andcontrols voltage of a DC system and reactive power or an AC voltage ofthe power system 5.

[0028] The control apparatus 100 of the first converter of theembodiment is now described in detail with reference to FIG. 2. Thecontrol apparatus 100 takes in a rotation speed N of the PMG detected bya rotation speed detection circuit 21, three-phase terminal voltagesVta, Vtb and Vtc of the PMG detected by a voltage detection circuit 22and three-phase output currents Ia, Ib and Ic of the PMG detected by acurrent detection circuit 23 and calculates active power Pf and reactivepower Qf from the following equations (1), (2) and (3). The positivedirection of the active power is defined by the power generationdirection of the PMG and the positive and negative directions of thereactive power are defined by the leading direction and the laggingdirection thereof, respectively. $\begin{matrix}{\begin{bmatrix}{{vt}\quad \alpha} \\\quad \\{{vt}\quad \beta}\end{bmatrix} = {2/{{3\begin{bmatrix}1 & {{- 1}/2} & {{- 1}/2} \\\quad & \quad & \quad \\0 & {{{SQRT}(3)}/2} & {{- {{SQRT}(3)}}/2}\end{bmatrix}}\begin{bmatrix}{vta} \\{vtb} \\{vtc}\end{bmatrix}}}} & (1) \\{\begin{bmatrix}{1\quad \alpha} \\\quad \\{1\quad \beta}\end{bmatrix} = {2/{{3\begin{bmatrix}1 & {{- 1}/2} & {{- 1}/2} \\\quad & \quad & \quad \\0 & {{{SQRT}(3)}/2} & {{- {{SQRT}(3)}}/2}\end{bmatrix}}\begin{bmatrix}{1a} \\{1b} \\{1c}\end{bmatrix}}}} & (2) \\{\begin{bmatrix}{Pf} \\{Qf}\end{bmatrix} = {\begin{bmatrix}{1\alpha} & {1\beta} \\{1\beta} & {{- 1}\alpha}\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}{{vt}\quad \alpha} \\{{vt}\quad \beta}\end{bmatrix}}} & (3)\end{matrix}$

[0029] The active power control circuit 101 controls so that the activepower Pf is equal to an active power command value Pr. A reactive powercommand value setting circuit 104 sets up a reactive power command valueQr on the basis of the active power command value Pr and the rotationspeed N of the PMG and the reactive power control circuit 102 controlsso that the reactive power Qf is equal to the command value Qr. Theactive power control circuit 101 and the reactive power control circuit102 use PI (proportion and integration) control or the like. Theconverter control unit 103 prepares control pulses on the basis ofoutputs of the active power control circuit 101 and the reactive powercontrol circuit 102 and supplies on-and-off signals for switching theself-commutating semiconductor elements to the first converter 3.

[0030] A setting method of the reactive power command value settingcircuit 104 of the present invention is now described. FIG. 3 shows arelation of a reactive power command value gain Kq and the rotationspeed N of the PMG. The rotation speed of the PMG at which that aterminal voltage reaches a rated value is defined to N1. The reactivepower command value gain Kq is set up to a positive value until therotation speed N1 is reached and the reactive power command value gainKq is varied from the positive value to a negative value from after therotation speed N1 until a rotation speed N2 at which a lagged reactivepower is increased to a maximum output is reached. The gain Kq is set upto a fixed negative value after the rotation speed N2. ±Kq1 is set up toany value in accordance with characteristics of the power source 1, thepermanent-magnet generator 2 or the like so that the maximum commandvalue Qr does not exceed the maximum output point of the reactive powerand the reactive power command value gain Kq is decided in accordancewith the rotation speed N of the PMG.

[0031]FIG. 4 shows an example of a relation of the active power commandvalue Pr and the rotation speed N of the PMG. The active power commandvalue Pr can adopt a value in the hatched area in accordance with therotation speed when the rated value thereof is Pr1. The reactive powercommand value Qr is expressed by the following equation (4) from thereactive power command value gain Kq and the active power command valuePr.

Qr=Qo+Kq·Pr   (4)

[0032]FIG. 5 shows an example of a relation of the reactive powercommand value Qr and the rotation speed N of the PMG. The reactive powercommand value Qr can adopt a value in the hatched area of FIG. 5 on thebasis of the reactive power command value gain Kq determined by theactive power command value Pr and the rotation speed N of the PMG and isa command value to the reactive power control circuit 102. When it isassumed that ±Kq1=±1.0 and Pr1=1.0PU, ±Qr1 is +(leading) 1.0PU and−(lagging) 1.0PU. A reactive power command initial value Qo is set up tozero in the embodiment, while it can be set up to any value inaccordance with conditions of the power source 1, the permanent-magnetgenerator 2 and the like similarly to the reactive power command valuegain Kq. The reactive power command value setting circuit 104 decidesthe reactive power command value Qr by using the characteristic of FIG.3 and the following equation (5).

[0033]FIG. 6 shows an example of a relation of a voltage command valuegain Kv and the rotation speed N of the PMG. The voltage command valuegain Kv is increased to Kv1 until the rotation speed N1 is reached. Thevoltage command value gain Kv is set up to a fixed Kv1 after therotation speed N1 has been reached and is decided in accordance with therotation speed N. Further, a voltage command value Vr is expressed bythe following equation from the voltage command value gain Kv and theactive power command value Pr.

Vr=Vo+Kr·Pr   (5)

[0034] Next, a control method of the embodiment is described withreference to vector diagrams of FIGS. 8 and 9 and FIG. 10. FIG. 8 is avector diagram showing a control method in a low-speed rotation area.

[0035] That is, the low-speed rotation area is an area from zero to N1of the rotation speed of the PMG. In FIG. 8, Eo represents an inducedvoltage, X a generator leakage reactance, I an output current and Vt aterminal voltage of the generator. Since the internal induced voltage Eoof the generator is increased in proportion to the rotation speed, thefirst converter 3 uses the control apparatus 100 to decide the reactivepower command value Qr or the voltage command value Vr so that phases ofthe output current I of the generator and the internal induced voltageEo of the generator are coincident with each other and control theterminal voltage Vt of the generator. Consequently, the power factor ofthe generator is improved and high efficiency of the power generationapparatus in the low-speed rotation area can be attained.

[0036]FIG. 9 is a vector diagram showing a control method in ahigh-speed rotation area.

[0037] That is, the high-speed rotation area is an area where therotation speed of the PMG is larger than N1. Since the terminal voltageVt of the generator has already reached the rated value at the rotationspeed N1 as described above, the power generation apparatus is stoppeddue to over-voltage if the rotation speed is increased as it is.Accordingly, the first converter 3 uses the control apparatus 100 todecide the reactive power command value Qr or the voltage command valueVr so that the output current I of the generator is lagged behind theinternal induced voltage Eo of the generator and control the terminalvoltage Vt of the generator. Consequently, a variable speed range of thegenerator in the high-speed rotation area can be widened.

[0038]FIG. 10 shows a relation of the terminal voltage Vt and therotation speed N of the PGM. C1 represents the relation in case wherethe reactive power or voltage is not controlled and C2 represents therelation according to the present invention. In the low-speed rotationarea, that is, in the area where the rotation speed is zero to N1, theterminal voltage is controlled to be higher than C1 in order to satisfythe relation of the vector diagram shown in FIG. 8. Further, in thehigh-speed rotation area, that is, in the area where the rotation speedis N1 to N2, the terminal voltage is maintained to the rated value Vt1so that the variable speed range of the generator is widened and afterthe rotation speed exceeds N2, the voltage is increased again since thereactive power which the converter can produce is increased to themaximum.

[0039] (Embodiment 2)

[0040] The embodiment is the same as the embodiment 1 with the exceptionthat the reactive power control circuit 102 and the reactive powercommand value setting circuit 104 of FIG. 2 are replaced by a voltagecontrol circuit and a voltage command value setting circuit,respectively, and the voltage command value setting circuit decides thevoltage command value Vr on the basis of the active power command valuePr and the rotation speed N of the PGM, the voltage control circuit 102controlling so that the terminal voltage Vt of the PMG is equal to thecommand value Vr, the terminal voltage Vt of the PMG being calculated bythe following equation (6):

Vt=SQRT(Vtα ² +Vtβ ²)   (6)

[0041] The voltage control circuit uses the PI (proportion andintegration) control in the same manner as described above.

[0042]FIG. 7 shows an example of a relation of the voltage command valueVr and the rotation speed N ocf the PMG. The voltage command value Vr isset up to a value in the hatched area of FIG. 7 on the basis of theactive power command value Pr and the voltage command value gain Kvdetermined from the rotation speed N of the PMG and becomes a commandvalue to the voltage control circuit. Vr1 is 1.0PU when Kv=1.0 andPr1=1.0 PU, for example. The setting method of the voltage commandinitial value Vo and the realization method by the equation (6) and thecharacteristic of FIG. 6 are the same as those of the reactive powercommand value setting circuit 104 of the embodiment 1.

[0043] Further, in the case of the power generation apparatus in whichenergy of the power source is transmitted to the PMG stably as a gasturbine, for example, since the active power substantially proportionalto the rotation speed of PMG is obtained, any of the active powercommand value Pr or the rotation speed N of the PMG may be inputted tothe voltage command value setting circuit. That is, in this case, whenthe voltage command value Vr is determined on the basis of any of theactive power command value Pr or the rotation speed N of the PMG, thereare obtained the same effects as the case where both of the active powercommand value Pr and the rotation speed N of the PMG are used.

[0044] According to the present invention, the efficiency of thepermanent-magnet generator can be enhanced and the variable speed rangecan be widened by control of the reactive power or voltage of the powerconverter and there can be provided the power generation apparatushaving the robust characteristics with high efficiency while utilizingthe converter capacity effectively.

[0045] It should be further understood by those skilled in the art thatthe foregoing description has been made on embodiments of the inventionand that various changes and modifications may be made in the inventionwithout departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A power generation apparatus including apermanent-magnet generator for generating AC power, a first converterfor converting the AC power generated by said generator into DC power,and a second converter for converting the DC power produced by saidfirst converter into AC power, wherein said first converter includesmeans for controlling active power of the AC power of said generator andmeans for controlling reactive power of the AC power of said generatorand said second converter includes means for producing a first activepower.
 2. A power generation apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid first converter includes means for calculating a reactive powercommand value on the basis of an active power command value and arotation speed of said generator and said first converter controlsreactive power of the AC power of said generator on the basis of theactive power command value and the rotation speed of said generator. 3.A power generation apparatus including a permanent-magnet generator forgenerating AC power, a first converter for converting the AC powergenerated by said generator into DC power, and a second converter forconverting the DC power produced by said first converter into AC power,wherein said first converter includes means for controlling active powerof the AC power of said generator, means for controlling a voltage ofthe AC power of said generator, and means for calculating a voltagecommand value on the basis of an active power command value and arotation speed of said generator and said first converter controls aterminal voltage of said generator on the basis of the active powercommand value and the rotation speed of said generator.
 4. A powergeneration apparatus including a permanent-magnet generator forgenerating AC power, a first converter for converting the AC powergenerated by said generator into DC power, and a second converter forconverting the DC power produced by said first converter into AC power,wherein said first converter includes means for controlling active powerof the AC power of said generator, means for controlling a voltage ofthe AC power of said generator, and means for calculating a voltagecommand value on the basis of an active power command value or arotation speed of said generator and said first converter controls aterminal voltage of said generator on the basis of the active powercommand value or the rotation speed of said generator.
 5. A powergeneration apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when said firstconverter calculates said reactive power command value on the basis ofthe active power command value and the rotation speed of said generator,the reactive power command value and the active power command value areset up so that phases of an output current of said generator and aninternal induced voltage of said generator are coincident with eachother in accordance with the rotation speed of said generator in alow-speed rotation area of said generator and the reactive power commandvalue and the active power command value are set up so that the outputcurrent of said generator is lagged behind the internal induced voltagein said generator in accordance with the rotation speed of saidgenerator in a high-speed rotation area of said generator.
 6. A powergeneration apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when said firstconverter calculates said reactive power command value on the basis ofthe active power command value and the rotation speed of said generator,the voltage command value and the active power command value are set upso that phases of an output current of said generator and an internalinduced voltage of said generator are coincident with each other inaccordance with the rotation speed of said generator in a low-speedrotation area of said generator and the voltage command value and theactive power command value are set up so that the output current of saidgenerator is lagged behind the internal induced voltage in saidgenerator in accordance with the rotation speed of said generator in ahigh-speed rotation area of said generator.